Sketch of Vista home-invasion suspect; reward offered

More details were released Monday about a violent home-invasion robbery in Vista two weeks ago involving three men and two women, and CrimeStoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.

The Sheriff’s Department said Monday that the victim may have been targeted because she and her husband own a retail jewelry business. There were no valuables inside the home, however, and the robbers left with about $200 and some checks.

The woman told investigators from the Sheriff Department’s Vista station that she was alone in her home on Carmel Circle about noon on Nov. 8 when she heard a knock, opened the door and saw a man and a woman that she did not know. After a short conversation in Spanish, the man grabbed her by the throat and the pair forced their way into the home.

Two other men and a woman then also entered the house.

The victim was taken to a bedroom. A handgun was pointed at her head and she was pushed to the floor. Her wrists were bound behind her back and her ankles were bound with duct tape.

The robbers asked her for cash, jewelry and gold. The woman told them she did not have anything valuable in the home. The robbers then searched the house, leaving her alone in the bedroom. She was able to break free and run to a neighbor’s house. She saw a new black Nissan Altima parked on the street and thought it might be the robbers’ car.

She described the man who first came to the door as Latino with a light complexion, 20 to 25 years old, about 6 feet tall and 230 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. She described the woman with him as Latina, also 20 to 25 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing about 130 pounds with long straight black hair.

The three others were described as Hispanic and between 20 to 25 years old.

The victim said she thought the robbers used either walkie-talkies or Nextel cellular phones to communicate with each other because she heard a beep before transmissions.

Anyone with information can call the Crime Stoppers tip line at (888) 580-8477 and remain anonymous, or send an anonymous e-mail or text message via www.sandiegocrimestoppers.com.